We gathered on a beach in the early morning.
Dover beach, with the sun breaking through the clouds and the sea of English Channel sparkling beautifully in the background.

We had come to celebrate 800 years since the first Franciscan friars set foot in England, bringing  the message of joy, peace and reconciliation: the  Gospel of Christ though the lens of the simplicity of St Francis.  With joy and hope  Anglican and Catholics, the diverse family of Franciscans, met on that beach to encounter and be fed by Christ through the Bread of the Eucharist.  

Yet despite the joy and anticipation of this special time we were all deeply  aware that in  the background the waters of  English Channel  had claimed so many lives.  Human beings, just like the early friars were trying to get to the Uk in search of a different lives. 39 people having lost their lives this year.

One port chaplain shared with us the pain and trauma of rescue crews who have been traumatised by what they have witnessed in our complicated and complex world.